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Wednesday, April 12, 2017

Do you have a Sewing List?

It's the start of a new season - Spring - one of my favorite seasons! And as I do every cycle, I make a new sewing list. In years past, I've used a notebook, a scrap of paper and my iPad to make a list.Last fall I made a very long and comprehensive list ~

It was a list that started to strangle me after a minute. It was too much and it made me feel as if I was accomplishing nothing...which is definitely a skewed point of view since I made 12 garments during the first quarter of this year!So somewhere in there, I made a smaller list and I've sewn everything but one item from the list and one item is in process. That smaller list made me feel much more accomplished as I checked each thing off of it.After that experience, I decided that I would start with a smaller list of items to sew for Spring. I thought about sharing it but sharing those lists always seem to jinx the making of any garments on it...so you will have to see each garment as it comes out of my sewing machine.The point of this is to ask, "Do you have a Sewing List?" Do you make one at any point? The beginning of the season, the start of a big project, to give your sewing some direction? Or do you free-style? Sew whatever interests you at the moment? Or do you do a combination of list and free-style? This is the Question of the Day so talk back to me! Inquiring minds want to know - sewing list or not!...as always more later!

39 comments:

Have to comment Carolyn as this is almost exactly me!! I made a list of older items to do and it came up to 22 makes. That was a bit overwhelming so I made a smaller list of what I hope to accomplish in April and May. That is 10 items and may be a bit too much but i feel better looking at the smaller list. I have already finished 3 and am getting started on 4 so I feel much more happy when I see the dent I have made in the small list. I do allow myself to get off track of the list if something inspires me to make it now. It is the journey that should provide a part of the pleasure and I am learning not to be so rigid.

No sewing list for me, but I can see how one can help. Especially when one is an u disciplined sewer like me. I really need a list not of things to sew but of things to finish! I have two tops that have been waiting for buttonholes and buttons for a couple of months. I have a cut out but not yet sewn fleece bed for my kitty. I have countless quilts in various stages of non(!)-completion. I did sew five laundry bags in two days, but they were something I wanted to do for a few years! And I sewed a zippered project cover to protect my needlepoint in progress. Those two projects were spur of the moment, and I knew they would be easy to do in a day or two. I love that you completed so many outfits in the first quarter of the year....so inspiring!

I have 4 lists. 2 for sewing and 2 for quilting. Master list is all the projects, well most of them, in whatever stage (pattern with fabric, cut out, started but not finished). The second is a monthly list, my more fluid version but enables me to complete projects, cross them off and feel accomplished.

I make a list of presents I want to make to give to other people for birthdays, anniversaries, Christmas etc. If I get too close to the event and I haven't finished it (or even started it!) I will buy them a gift but finish the item ready for the next event. I have a tried and tested baby quilt pattern that can be put together in a few days after the baby arrives. I never plan a list of makes for me as i prefer spur of the moment sewing for that.

I've made so many sewing list over the years, and as you pointed the was jinx. For some reason I became overwhelmed and walk away. Funny, it wasn't until the end of last year that I decided to make a list of two- three items only. Keep it private and only share when I make something. Great post.

In the past I've written exhaustive lists that aren't reflective of the limited amount of time I have to sew! This season I've tried a smaller list and I'm finding that it helps me stay focused while still feeling achievable.

When I was working I always made a seasonal sewing list as it was so satisfying to check and cross off items completed. Now, as a retiree, I just fly by the seat of my pants and free-style. I just go to my studio, "listen" to my fabrics, dig in and create! Karen

List maker by personality, but never in the sewing room. Totally identify with "strangle" & "jinx".My limited sewing time is fueled by inspiration from IG, blog photos, & my FB sewing groups. I do make lists when I have a lot of gifts to sew (christmas).

I've never kept a list , but I like your idea of making one with just 2-3 items. I think this idea would make me more productive . I tend to lose my mojo for a bit when I finish a project as I'm not sure what to start next .

Well you know my answer to that! I always make lists and get a lot of things sewn from my lists...but I don't feel as if I *HAVE TO* sew everything on the list. I will jump ship as I see fit.

Like, I finished two dresses last week but before I started on vacation garment #2, I made a knit skirt using a cute 1 yard cut of a double knit I'd snagged. It was a quickie project but I am so glad I made it!!!

Unless I'm sewing a wardrobe or capsule, I pretty much wing it and sew what I want. I make lists for a lot of things, but I don't make sewing lists. It would be the sure fire way to not sew what was on the list. :-O

No time to sew for me with brides dropping in daily...hoping the Fall will bring more time. So happy to have time to see what others are making! Wishing you much success with whatever yoiu chose to tackle!

I do not have a sewing list, but maybe I should. I seem to end up making things that I can't wear right away because I need something else to go with it, or the season has passed and it's too hot/cold to wear it now.

I like your idea of a comprehensive list such as yours. You are a very disciplined sewer and I admire that. Since Multiple Sclerosis has gotten the better of me, I can only sew when I have the energy. So what I do now is put fabric and pattern together and also makeovers and alterations (which I do enjoy) on my cutting table, put each project in a bag, and then I prioritize the projects. This seems to work for me. I do not do any sewing except for myself, husband and immediate family. It is more manageable that way for me. I do admire you for your dedication to sewing and you are an inspiration to many. God bless you.

I am the Queen of Lists. I make tons of them. They overwhelm me, and I ignore them. Your idea for whittling it down is a good one. I'll try that. I get caught up in "shoulds" and have enough pressure and endless tasks at work. I can't face a list of what I'm not doing at home too.

I make a list for the Fall/Winter because I need focus and direction when the temps start to drop and I start to feel down and sluggish. In the spring and winter I usually end up sewing for actual events and trips so I don't necessarily need a list for motivation. I usually know EXACTLY what I want to make and change as I feel.

I once tried to list all the projects to go with all the fabrics where I had purchased with intent. I think they found me curled up in a ball under the sewing table whimpering. I now plan the current month and the top two ideas for the next month. I'm getting more done this way.

Yes and no. I always have a mental list going and sometimes I'll post my plans to my blog, but I allow myself to edit and rearrange the list as I go. There's always an event or trend that pops up that needs to line jump. Since reorganizing the Craft Lounge when Taco was born, I have an open shelf for storage that I use as my "on deck" area. Every season, I take out the fabrics that I plan to sew up from my stash. It's helped me stay really focused and also encouraged me to sew from stash, both good!

Began to strangle you, such a good description. I make big lists and, like you I know that they are too big and it's counterproductive. Editing it down and actually sewing it and getting to cross it off the list really does make you feel much more productive. However, I have a terrible time editing down what I want to sew!

Nancy that's my problem too! I'm always dreaming up new projects but this go round, I'm telling myself to only think/dream about things on my list...and once I've completed the majority of them...cause I really want these things...then I can make a new list and dream more things.

First actual (modest) list ever this month. I ordered 5 Jalie patterns, and then ordered appropriate fabric from Blackbird Fabrics and Thread Theory. Spent a whole day adjusting and tracing patterns and cutting out 6 projects. Then I finished one and wore it today, a knit tee shirt. I feel like a super sewer. Fleeting but fun.

Wow that was some list! I don't tend to, I have things in mind that I may need or want and sometimes what I make grows from the fabric I buy. I also get lots of little jobs from family and friends that keep me busy. xx

I'm pretty new to garment sewing, but I have made lots of bags, pouches, quilts and other projects. I get super excited to make EVERYTHING right now and I can get easily overwhelmed by that. So, in the past I have made a list of projects that I have completed. I've also made a list of projects I want to complete using a google doc and edited it as I make stuff. I agree though, if the list is too long, in my head or written down, it's too much for me. I just want to focus on the next thing for now, which is cutting out and sewing a dress I traced out yesterday. Thanks for sharing your sewing journey.

I used to make lists but not for planning. The lists were to log garments, patterns, fabrics when I finished making them. Now I just have a plan, well, inspiration board. I'm a total visual person and just listing what I want to make would never work for me! Instead I use powerpoint to create slides where I put pictures of inspirations, patterns, and my fabrics together. It's definitely not a "I must make this next" list. For inspiration only, well, that and it helps make sure that I am trying to make garments that will fit into my current wardrobe.

You know I never thought of actually sitting down and writing a list to sew. What I do, is go through my pattern stash and pull out patterns that I would like to make and put them in a separate box. Then as I make them, I put my patterns back in my stash. I think it is a great idea to have a reasonable list to help you meet your sewing goals